Lubricated cock



Sept. 3, 1935. R FENNEMA f 2,013,342.

LUBRICATED COCK Filed Nov. 21, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 f] i f1 -rotationalmovement of the plug of the cock. In

Patented 3, 193s PATENT .OFFICE LUBBICATED COCK Richard Fennema,Chicago, lll., `aseiignor to Graue Co., Chicago, lll., a. corporation otIllinois Application November 21, 1931, Serial No. 576,477

4 Claims. (Cl. 251-93) This invention relates to lubricated plug valves'or cocks and has for its purposethe provision of a cock that isthoroughly lubricated, therefore easy to operate and absolutelyleak-proof.

In accordance with this invention lubricating channels are provided bymeans of which the seating surfaces between the plug and body of thecock are adequately lubricated at all times, that is, not only when thecock is in open or closed position, butin all intermediate positionswithout subjecting the lubricant channels to the line pres-` sure andwithout permitting lubricant to discharge 'under pressure into theinterior of the cock. lFurthermore, the foregoing features are providedin a manner which does not necessitate limiting the those cocks wheredesired the lubricant may be used to provide a. complete seal about thecock port, although such provision is not always necessary.

Other novel features of construction and their resultant advantages willbe apparent from the following description of one embodiment of thisinvention given in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through a plug valve or cock,the plug being in elevation and in open position, constructed inaccordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation partly in section of the same cock,

Fig. 3 is a section online 3&3 of Fig. 2, but with the plug in closedposition,

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section with the plug in elevation andin closed position of a modiiied form of lubricating channel,

Fig. 5 is a section perpendicular to .that of Fig. lr/'and of the sameform,

, Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figi 4 through the upperlubricating grooves,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section with the plug in elevation and in openposition and with still further modied lubricant grooves, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section perpendicular to Fig. 7 and of the samemodification, the cock being open.

-As can be seen from the drawings, the plug valve or cock comprises abody or casing I having a passage 2 therethrough, the ends of which arethreaded' as at 3 to provide for pipe connections. The body is alsoformed with the usual tapered cylindrical longitudinal bore transverseto passage 2 to receive a corresponding tapered plug 4, the seatingsurfaces between the plug and bore be ing carefully finished to provideseating surfaces.

The plug is provided with the transverse portlA positioned to permitiiow through the passage 2 when the port 6 is aligned therewith and toprevent passage through the cock body passage when the plug is rotatedfrom its open position. 5

The plug is maintained in seating position within the body by means ofthe usual bonnet I and adjusting nut 8 threaded into the bonnet 1.`Beneath the Vlower end of the adjusting nut 8 is a lock washer 9 and athrust Washer Ill.` A pair. of gaskets II and I2 may be insertedbeneath' the thrust washer I0 and the upper annular surface of the plug.

A stem I3 formed integrally upon the plug projects upwardly and passesthrough the bonnet 1.- and adjusting nut and terminates in a square endI4 adapted to receive a Wrench by which the plug may be rotated to openor closed position.

To lubricate the valve the stem of the plug is bored to provide alubricant reservoir I6, the lower 20 end of which is provided with aremovable check valve unit I'I and the upper end of which is adapted toreceive a compressor in the form of a screw- I8, by means of which thelubricant may be compressed in chamber I6 and forced outwardly throughcheck valve I 1. In the upper bearing portion of the plug is formed acontinuous but otiset annular lubricating channel or groove having 4twodiametrically opposite parallel portions I9 substantially 90 in lengthand parallel to the port through the body and two diametrically oppositeparallel portions 2| which overlie the top of the port and are connectedby two short longitudinal connecting grooves to portions I9 to form acontinuous annular groove around the upper seating surface of the plug.The portions 2| are not in the same horizontal plane as the portions I9,i. e., they lie in two spaced and preferably non-intersecting planes,for reasons which will hereinafter appear. This lcontinuous groove com-40 prising portions I9 and 2l is connected to the lower portion IGa ofthe reservoir I6 by lateral ducts 22 formed in the plug. The lowerportion of the plug is provided with parallel diametrically oppositelubricant grooves 23. These grooves are substantially 90 long andareparallel to port 6 and immediately below portions I9.

The seating surface of the conical bore of the body is provided withfour substantially equally spaced vertical or longitudinal lubricantgrooves 24 which extend downwardlyr in the body surface to connect withchannels 23 and upwardly a sufcient distance to communicate withchannels I9 but not with channels 2|.

It follows, therefore, that when plug 4V is in 55 groove. The upperportion of the plug, however, v

is continuously lubricated, since the upper .portion is provided with acontinuous channel comprising portions I9 and 2B. Therefore, althoughthe upper portion of -the plug is'at all times thoroughly lubricated,the lubricant channels are not subjected to the line pressure as port 6passes from open to-closed position, nor is the lubricant in channels 24alowed to be forced out of these latter grooves as the port 6 passesthereby.

It is apparent from the foregoing description Ythat a cock constructedin accordance with this invention is thoroughly lubricated at all timesWithout subjecting the lubricantrchannels to the line pressure andwithout permitting the lubricant to be forced into the interior of thevalve.

and that the valve is particularly suitable where the plug is notlimited to a 90 rotation and where the Vfrontfas shown in Fig. 4, itrises and clears. the 'upper end of the channel 24 which lies upon To`four-way cocks are desired. Where complete nprotection and lubricationis desired, the two continuous annular lubricant channels, i.V e., oneat each end of the. plug, may be utilized to provide for a completelubricant seal in both open and closed positions.

In the form of this invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the cockstructure is the same as that shown in the previous form, with theexception that the lubricant grooves and channels are modied to someextent. The grooves are so arranged as to facilitate grinding of theplug by preventing annular cuts being made in the body or plug duringthe in operation. To eliminate the tendency in this respect the uppergroove instead of being formed of offset or stepped portions aspreviously shown is formed of a seposite channels at the same end of thebody be ing connected to receive lubricant.

.As in the previous form the body is provided with four longitudinal orvertical channels 24,

one lying adjacent each side of each port through the body. T he upperend of the plug is provided `with a. continuous groove comprisingintersectinclined portions 26 .which surround the up- Y per portion ofthe plug. The inclination and length -of these portions is such that attheir lower points Ythey contact with the-upperends of channels 24 andat their higher points they clear the upper ends of channels 24. Theseveral por- -tions of thegroove are so arranged that when the plug isin closed position, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, one portion 26whichoverlies the pas- Sage in thbody connects atone end with channel24which' lies adjacent the back edge of. the passage and as it travelsaround the plug toward the other side lof, the passage (which channel ispeut away in Fig. 4). From the high point overlying This latterlongitudinal channel, thegroove j t then descends as it travels aroundthe plug and at the lower' end of the next portion-26 'engages thenextvertical ch'nnel H24. From this point A. either open or closedposition the .upper annular the succeeding portion 26 of the grooverises and clears the upper end of channel 24, as shown in Fig. 4, thefollowing portion 26 upon the rear side of the plug then descends andcommunicates with the upper end of channel 24, as shown.

At the lower end the plug is provided with two arcuate inclined grooves21. These grooves are .substantially parallel with the port 6 throughthe plug and when the plug is in closed position, vthey lie beneath thepassages through the body. These grooves 2l are inclined downwardlyv and,when in closed position, as shown in Fig. 4, the

.with refrigerant through lateral ducts which communicate with thechamber in the stem of the plug as in the previous form' of thisinvention.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a further modication of the upper lubricant groove isshown, in which the same results are accomplished as was specified inconnection with -the form of this invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.Inthe form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, however, the upper grooves instead ofbeing composed of inclined sections are composed of stepped portions-ina manner similar to that shown in Figs. `1 to 3, inclusive, but thestepped or oiset portions areso arranged as to establish communicationwith the longitudinal grooves in the manner set forth in the modicatonshown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In other .wordsfthe stepped groove at theupper end ofl the lplug does not establish communication Vwith thevertical channels on the same end ofthe body at eachside of the' passagetherethrough,V as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but establish communicationwith diagonally opposite channels as described in connection with Figs.4, 5 and 6.

In this form' of the inventionthe upper lubricant groove is continuousand is composed of. Y

offset .sections 28 vand 29,Y the former being upon a plane higher thanthe latter. The sections 28 and 29 are so arranged, relatively to theport 6, that when in closed position the vertical or longitudinalchannels 24 are connected inthe man1- ner described in connectionfwiththe form of this invention shown in Figs. 4l to .-6, andare similarlyconnected when in open position as Shown in 7 and 8. From these glllesitnel 24A lying to the rear of the passage through the body as shown inFig. 7, i. e., to the' left can be seen that when in open position thelower portion 2S'is spaced from the longitudinal chan-'fao' channel -asshown -in Fig. 8, but 'communicates with the channel 24 on the same sideof the body I lying upon the other side of the channel. The groove thensteps upwardly and the portion' 28 clears the right channel 24 in Fig.'l 'after which it descends and engages the rearmost channel 24, asshown in Fig. "1..v

In uns form of the invnuonapair of ua-` metrically opposite arcuategrooves 3l are em-- 'these grooves 3| are parallel to the port 6 sthroaghthe llugaltneugn l: desired they can be inclined downwardly.. A

A cocki-constructed in accordance with this inventionmay be manufacturedvery economically in--thatthe-*grooves may be cast in both Vmeleellyndtheplug. Furtnermorelplaelng the channels 2li` in thebody facilitatesmachining of ring or cut in is ground therein.

the plug. Where the stepped or oiset grooves are employed; as shownmythe ferm illustrated in IFigs. 1 to 3, inclusive; vprovision is madefor a continuouslubricant groove in different planes, which .featureelimi'natesthe formation of a .the body when the plug Whenthegroovesjare 'formed in the plug as shown in Figs; 4,5 andf, a .completeseal is not formed aroilndbothgsides of each end of the passagewaythrcughgthebody, butlthe lubricant grooves formed on inclination ailorda more even distribution of lubricant and by eliminating l Vallrhorizontal grooves,` positively prevents the from'thespirit-and scopeof Ythis invention as def fined in the claims Aappended, hereto.

formationA of a; cut caused by the lapping or grinding in` of the' plugin the body. By forming the -.grooves asslibwn iin-Figs.'v 'l and 8, thecasting Vproblems Iare usomewhat reduced although here again a completelubricant seal is not" formed -around one'fendfof the passage. Thelubricant, hcwevenis quite eectively 'ped over the seating surfacesofthe-plugand body.

Itwillfb apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes may bemade in the details of the constructions shownwithout -departing I claiml `1. A plug valve comprising a. body having a pas ,sage therethroughand a-tapered bore transverse to said"passage, acorrespondinglytaperedplug' seated in said bore, and having a port therethrougharrangedfto permit flow through said passage'in one ,position and toprevent flow l through said passage When rotated about its axis,

Aand meansl for lubricating the seating surfaces betweensaid plug andbody, said means includingf a lubricant reservoir insaid plug, a groovein one of said .seating-surfaces substantially surrounding said plug,substantially all portions of said'groove being inclined, a duct leadingfrom said reservoirtdsaid'groova and spaced longitudnalchannelslin :theother of said seating surfaces haviln'g (me end of each terminating atportions of said Yailrlular groove'and stopping short of theotherporticnsthereof.

2..A plug valvomprisinga body having a passage therethlbllgh andatapered bore transverse to .said'passaga a: correspondingly tapered Yplug seated in saidbore and having a. port therethrough 4 to permit flowthrough said 3 passage in one position and to prevent' vflow throughsaid passage when rotated about its axis,

- and means for lubricating the seating surfaces between said plug andbody, said means including a lubricant reservoir in said plug, a groovein- 1 said plug substantially surrounding said plug adjacent one endthereof, substantially all portions lof said groove being inclined, aduct leading from said reservoir to said-groove, and spaced longitudinalchannels in said bodyfthe diagonally opposite longitudinal channelsbeing connected t receive lubricant from said groove when said plug isin closed position kand being disconnected from grooves in the other ci.said surfaces, certain of said longitudinal grooves connecting with`said circumferential groove in one position of the plug,

and certain other of said longitudinal lgrooves connecting with saidcircumferential groove in another position of said plug. y

4. A plug valve comprising a ported turn plug, a ported body in whichthe plug is seated, and means for lubricating the seating surfaces ofsaid plug and body comprising a lubricant reservoir, a. circumferentiallubricant groove in one .of saidV surfaces substantiallysurrounding'theplug be- -tween its port and the plug stem and connectedwith said reservoir, said groove comprising a plurality of connectedinclined segments, adjacent segments being inclined in opposite direc-`tions, and a. plurality of longitudinal'lubricant grooves in the otherof said surfaces, certain of said longitudinal grooves connecting' withsaid circumferential groove'in one position of the plug, and certainother `of said longitudinal grooves connecting with said circumferentialgroovelln another position of said plug, and other segmental inclinedgrooves in the vfirst mentioned surface arranged to be connected in saiddifferent positions of the plug with the same longitudinal grooves whichare connected with the said .circumi'erential groove but at the endsthereof opposite from those adjacent said circumferential

